SCOTT FRIEDMAN The Forney House, on North Main Street in Milltown, would be demolished to make way for a bank branch as part of an application that has local approval and is expected to receive a federal agency’s approval. MILLTOWN – As Valley National Bank moves forward with its plan to replace the Forney Clinic with a branch, some proponents of saving the historic landmark are accusing a federal agency of violating its own regulations.
The federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) must grant approval to the bank to demolish the nearly 150-year-old Forney house and build a branch there. As part of the approval process, two conference calls were made involving OCC, and bank and historic preservation representatives. Some residents claim that during the second call, on Oct. 25, rules were not followed, and that the OCC was too quick to move toward drafting a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the bank.
“That whole process got hijacked. They never talked about any other alternatives. It was a really shocking turn of events,” said Kathy Heilman of the John C. Evans Project, a group working to save the house. John C. Evans, whose family built the house in the mid to late 1800s, converted it to a medical clinic in 1907, and it was used as such until the 1970s.
Before the conference calls took place, Ramah Chansen of the OCC stated in a letter that parties would be included in the MOA process, pointing out that others would be excluded. Although the borough’s historic society was not slated for inclusion, Heilman enlisted the help of Congressman Rush Holt, who lobbied for her to participate as a representative of the group.
While the first conference call resulted in the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) suggesting an onsite evaluation of the house and its structural integrity be completed, the second call did not consider that evaluation or explore options beyond the demolition of the building, critics said.
“It was very clear that the OCC folks had decided what they were going to do,” said Ron Emrich of Preservation New Jersey. “It seemed very predetermined. It was sort of presented that this is the fait accompli, we’re all here to agree to it.”
The OCC’s communications office did not return calls seeking comment for this story.
Aside from preservationists’ displeasure with what they claim was haste on the part of the OCC, they were also unhappy with the unexpected inclusion of two individuals. Contrary to Chansen’s past statement that Dr. Bhudev Sharma, the property owner, would not be included, his attorney took part in the call, Heilman said. Milltown Borough Council President Eric Steeber also participated, a move that sparked outrage among some of the residents working to save the Forney house.
“It was bad enough that he never consulted with any of the Milltowners taking part in the OCC proceedings, but I was especially shocked by the fact that he chose to associate with the bank’s representatives …,” said Michael Shakarjian, also of the John C. Evans Project. “It was a big slap in the face to all who have worked so hard to save this important part of Milltown’s history, much less the quality and character of our Main Street.”
Shakarjian said that although he did not participate in the call, he listened in along with Milltown Environmental Commission Chairman Alan Godber.
In response to Steeber’s participation, the John C. Evans Project distributed a flier criticizing his actions. Members of the group accused Steeber of aiding the bank in its efforts, and going against Mayor Gloria Bradford’s statement that the borough government would not be represented in the proceedings.
“That is absolutely the furthest thing from the truth,” Steeber said of the accusations. “That kind of flies in the face of everything I’ve done up to this point.”
Steeber said he was not representing the town, but instead speaking as a resident who had put forth efforts to preserve the house. He pointed out that in order for the town’s governing body to have an official stance on the issue, a resolution would first have to be drafted.
“I’m the only person, including the mayor, who stepped forward trying to save this thing,” Steeber said. “This is my reward.”
Steeber said he felt that, if the building could not be saved, the next best course of action would be to ensure that artifacts within it are preserved, a stipulation to be included in the MOA.
Shakarjian said he did not hear any indication from Steeber that he had an interest in saving anything, as he did not say anything that was not in line with the bank’s plans.
“He had no authority to participate,” Heilman said of Steeber. “He volunteered complete support for the bank. He basically said there is no other place in Milltown for the bank to go.”
Steeber refuted the claim, saying he simply stated the truth regarding two alternate sites raised as possibilities for the branch. One option was the Ford Avenue redevelopment site, which already has planned development that the town is in litigation over, he said. The second, at Washington Avenue and Ryders Lane, is too small, and is located at a busy intersection that would make approval unlikely, according to Steeber.
“Out of those three, the better property is the Forney property,” Steeber said. “I’m not just shooting my mouth off on this. I’ve been a land surveyor for 25 years.”
Despite talk about the two alternate sites, Heilman said the bank never submitted a formal analysis of alternate sites, as required by the OCC.
Fredric Azrak, an attorney for Valley National, could not be reached for comment.
Steeber also made mention of a point Shakarjian said was repeatedly cited during the conference call by bank representatives. If the bank does not get approval of its plans, Steeber said, Sharma could raze the building without saving any of the artifacts within, leaving the town with no remnants of the historic landmark.
Shakarjian said he sees the ultimatum as a threat to the OCC, as well as the process required by SHPO, which calls for an evaluation of projects impacting historic sites and structures.
The phone conference was not a conversation meant for public consumption, Steeber said, taking issue with his dissenters going public with information discussed therein.
“How this conversation became the thrust of a negative flier is beyond me,” Steeber said. “For them to do this, it’s so underhanded. It’s very sad. Now, I’m the whipping boy.”
Members of the John C. Evans Project said they found out from Chansen that Steeber was invited to participate in the call by an attorney for the bank. Steeber said he did not remember who was represented by the attorney who invited him, but he thought it was the OCC. He maintained that he had the right, as a citizen of Milltown, to participate in the proceedings.
Steeber suggested a pre-election political motive for the group’s speaking out against him, especially considering that one of his opponents in the council race, Stacey Waters, was also included in the conference call. Waters chairs Milltown’s historic preservation committee. Steeber, a Democrat, lost in the Nov. 6 election. Waters, a Republican, was elected.
Shakarjian maintained his position that Steeber took part in thwarting preservation efforts.
“This is the sort of thing that’s going to go down in history,” Shakarjian said. “If he wants his name down in the history books for the demise of the Forney house, then that’s what he has done.”
Though members of the John C. Evans Project were discouraged by the results of the teleconference, they said the fight for the Forney house is not over. Federal appeals are the only course of action at this point, they said. In their flier, they asked for donations to help with the cause.